Electronic device system

ABSTRACT

An electronic device system includes a plurality of electronic devices each having at least an audiovisual playback device capable of reading one of stored audiovisual content data and received audiovisual content data, and an audiovisual output device capable of outputting desired audiovisual content, a bus establishing connection among the plurality of electronic devices, and a controller capable of controlling the electronic devices connected to the bus. In the electronic device, the audiovisual output device connected via the bus includes a device identifying unit for identifying, under the control of the controller, the audiovisual output device which outputs the desired audiovisual content, and a content output unit for outputting the desired audiovisual content when the audiovisual output device is identified by the device identifying unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electronic device systems and moreparticularly relates to an electronic device system that enables desiredaudiovisual content to be automatically watched by specifying apredetermined audiovisual output device among a plurality of electronicdevices connected to a digital bus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In conventional electronic devices, when a TV (Television set), a VCR(Video Cassette Recorder), and the like are, for example, in the sameroom, they are connected with each other using cables, allowing thecontent in the VCR to be output on the TV. When a plurality ofelectronic devices is connected using, for example, a digital data buswhich is a bus according to the IEEE-1394 (Institute of Electrical andElectronic Engineers) standard and which is also known as an “i.Linkcable”, it is not necessary for these electronic devices to remain inthe same room. The digital bus allows electronic devices to be easilyconnected to the other electronic devices in other rooms and to beremotely controlled from a different room.

When the conventional electronic devices are connected using the i.Linkcables as described above, the following problems arise. For example,when a TV set is provided in each room and a user desires, by a remotecontrol unit, to play back data stored in an audiovisual device in adifferent room, the user must perform a selection operation so that theoutput from the remote audiovisual device is shown on the TV set nearthe user. When a plurality of electronic devices is connected, theselection operation becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anelectronic device system, in which a plurality of electronic devices isconnected with each other via a data bus, for enabling selectedaudiovisual information to be automatically output when a user selectsdesired audiovisual information from among a plurality of electronicdevices which is accessible by the user.

To this end, according to a first aspect of the present invention, thereis provided an electronic device system including a plurality ofelectronic devices each having at least an audiovisual playback devicecapable of reading one of stored audiovisual content data and receivedaudiovisual content data, and an audiovisual output device capable ofoutputting desired audiovisual content, a bus establishing connectionamong the plurality of electronic devices, and a controller capable ofcontrolling the electronic devices connected to the bus. In theelectronic device system, the audiovisual output device connected viathe bus includes a device identifying unit for identifying, under thecontrol of the controller, the audiovisual output device which outputsthe desired audiovisual content, and a content output unit foroutputting the desired audiovisual content when the audiovisual outputdevice is identified by the device identifying unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an electronicdevice system includes a plurality of electronic devices each includingat least an audiovisual playback device capable of reading one of storedaudiovisual content data and received audiovisual content data, and anaudiovisual output device capable of outputting desired audiovisualcontent, a bus for establishing connection among the plurality ofelectronic devices, and a controller capable of controlling theaudiovisual playback device connected to the bus. In the electronicdevice system, the audiovisual output device connected via the busincludes a voice recognizing unit for recognizing a voice, and a contentoutput unit for outputting the audiovisual content from the audiovisualplayback device from which reading is requested by the controller whenthe voice recognizing unit recognizes a specific voice.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an electronicdevice system includes a plurality of electronic devices each includingat least an audiovisual playback device capable of reading one of storedaudiovisual content data and received audiovisual content data, and anaudiovisual output device capable of outputting desired audiovisualcontent, a bus for establishing connection among the plurality ofelectronic devices, and a controller capable of controlling theaudiovisual playback device connected to the bus. In the electronicdevice system, the audiovisual output device connected via the busincludes a vibration recognizing unit for recognizing a vibration, and acontent output unit for outputting the audiovisual content from theaudiovisual playback device from which reading is requested by thecontroller when the vibration recognizing unit recognizes a specificvibration.

By recognizing the location of the user, specific voices, or vibration,the electronic device proximate to the user is driven and a desiredcontent is shown thereon. Accordingly, by performing only a playbackoperation or an output operation on the electronic devices connectedusing the bus, the user can automatically watch the desired content in adesired place.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship betweenelectronic devices and a controller connected using a digital busaccording to a first embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between theelectronic devices and the controller connected using the digital busaccording to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between theelectronic devices and the controller connected using the digital busaccording to a third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An electronic device system according to a first embodiment is describedwith reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows the construction of the electronic device system accordingto the first embodiment. The electronic device system includes anaudiovisual output device 10 for playing back audiovisual content andperforming infrared communication, an audiovisual playback device 20 forreading stored or received audiovisual content data, and a controller 30for controlling the audiovisual playback device 20, the controller 30including a remote control unit, a portable phone, and an informationunit. The audiovisual output device 10 and the audiovisual playbackdevice 20 are connected via a digital bus 40 provided with a digitalinterface according to the IEEE-1394 standard.

The audiovisual output device 10 includes a digital interface 11connected to the digital bus 40, a content output unit 12 for outputtingthe audiovisual content data, including audiovisual information,obtained via the digital interface 11, a communication controller 13 forcontrolling data communication with the digital bus 40 connected to thedigital interface 11, and an infrared receiver 14 for receiving aninfrared control signal from the controller 30 and for sending thecontrol signal to the communication controller 13.

The audiovisual playback device 20 includes a digital interface 21connected to the digital bus 40, a content data storing unit 22 forstoring the audiovisual content data including audiovisual information,a content controller 23 for obtaining the audiovisual content data fromthe digital bus 40 by controlling the digital interface 21, and awireless receiver 70 for receiving the control signal from thecontroller 30.

The controller 30 includes a user interface 31 for interface control fora playback operation and the like, a wireless transmitter 32A forgenerating a predetermined wireless control signal based on the controlsignal generated at the user interface 31, and an infrared transmitter32 for generating an infrared control signal. The control signalcontains a signal for selecting content from among audiovisual contentdata stored in the audiovisual playback device 20.

In the electronic device system, the user plays back desired audiovisualdata stored in the audiovisual playback device 20 by using thecontroller 30. The user interface 31 sends this operation signal to boththe wireless transmitter 32A and the infrared transmitter 32. Thewireless transmitter 32A wirelessly transmits a control signal 1 and theinfrared transmitter 32 transmits by infrared light a control signal 2.The wireless receiver 70 of the audiovisual playback device 20 and theinfrared receiver 14 of the audiovisual output device 10 receive thesetransmitted control signals. Upon detection of the received controlsignal 2, the communication controller 13 causes the digital interface11 to establish connection with the digital interface 21 of theaudiovisual playback device 20 which the user desires to access so as tobe ready for an output signal from the audiovisual playback device 20.The content controller 23 of the audiovisual playback device 20 readsaudiovisual content data in accordance with the control signal 1transmitted from the controller 30 via the wireless receiver 70 andsends the read data via the digital interface 21 to the audiovisualoutput device 10 using the digital bus 40. Once again, the digitalinterface 11 of the audiovisual output device 10 receives thetransmitted audiovisual content data and outputs the received data tothe content output unit 12. In the content output unit 12, when aplurality of audiovisual output devices 10 identifies itself, thedesired audiovisual content data is controlled so as to be output to theone identifying itself first among the plurality of audiovisual outputdevices identifying itself.

Thus, the desired audiovisual content data which is stored in theelectronic device (the audiovisual playback device 20 in the presentembodiment) is automatically output to another electronic device (theaudiovisual output device 10 in the present embodiment), so that theuser can watch it on the other electronic device. For example, whenelectronic devices which are connected with each other via the digitalbus 40 are provided in a plurality of rooms, the user can, simply byoperating the remote control unit, watch desired audiovisual contentwhich is stored in a different room.

An electronic device system according to a second embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device system includes an audiovisualoutput device 10A for outputting audiovisual content and for recognizinga voice, an audiovisual playback device 20A for storing audiovisualcontent data therein and for reading the audiovisual content data inaccordance with a control signal from a controller 50, and thecontroller 50 for controlling the audiovisual playback device 20A, thecontroller 50 including the remote control unit, the portable phone, andthe information unit. The audiovisual output device 10A and theaudiovisual playback device 20A are connected via the digital bus 40which is provided with the digital interface according to the IEEE-1394standard. This digital bus 40 is constructed so as to be connectable toother electronic devices.

The audiovisual output device 10A includes the digital interface 11connected to the digital bus 40, the content output unit 12 foroutputting audiovisual content data, including audiovisual information,obtained via the digital interface 11, the communication controller 13for controlling data communication with the digital bus 40 connected tothe digital interface 11, and a voice recognition apparatus 60 forrecognizing the voice.

The audiovisual playback device 20A includes the digital interface 21connected to the digital bus 40, the content data storing unit 22 forstoring the audiovisual content data including the audiovisual contentinformation, /the content controller 23 for sending or receiving theaudiovisual content data and audiovisual content information to or fromthe digital bus 40 by controlling the digital interface 21, and thewireless receiver 70 for receiving the control signal from thecontroller 50.

The controller 50 includes the user interface 31 for interface controlfor a playback operation and the like, and the wireless transmitter 32Afor generating a predetermined wireless control signal based on acontrol signal generated at the user interface 31.

In the electronic device system having such a construction, the userplays back desired audiovisual content data by uttering a voice such as“PLAYBACK”. The voice recognition apparatus 60 of the audiovisual outputdevice 10A recognizes this specific voice. This leads to establishconnection via the digital interface 11 between the audiovisual outputdevice 10A and the audiovisual playback device 20A, so that theaudiovisual output device 10A is ready for the output from theaudiovisual playback device 20A. Along with uttering the voice, the usersends a playback control signal to the audiovisual playback device 20Avia the wireless transmitter 32A of the controller 50. Either utteranceof the voice or transmission of the control signal may come first, whichis determined by the user in accordance with a user's environment. Thewireless receiver 70 of the audiovisual playback device 20A receivesthis control signal. The content controller 23 reads audiovisual contentdata in accordance with the received control signal and sends the readcontent data via the digital bus 40 to the audiovisual output device 10Ausing the digital interface 21. Once again, the digital interface 11 ofthe audiovisual output device 10A receives the read audiovisual contentdata. The communication controller 13 outputs the received data to thecontent output unit 12. When a plurality of audiovisual output devicesis specified, the desired audiovisual content data is controlled via thedigital bus 40 so as to be output to the audiovisual output device 10Awhich first recognizes the voice.

Thus, when the electronic device is within the wireless zone coverage,by uttering the voice and wirelessly selecting desired audiovisualcontent, since the desired audiovisual content data is obtained form theelectronic device which stores the audiovisual content data, the desiredaudiovisual content can be automatically shown on another electricdevice which is located in a different location.

An electronic device system according to a third embodiment is describedwith reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device system according to the thirdembodiment includes an audiovisual output device 10B for outputtingaudiovisual content and recognizing vibration, the audiovisual playbackdevice 20A for storing the audiovisual content data and reading theaudiovisual content data in accordance with the control signal from thecontroller 50, and the controller 50 for wirelessly controlling theaudiovisual playback device 20A. The audiovisual output device 10B andthe audiovisual playback device 20A are connected via the digital bus 40which is provided with the digital interface according to the IEEE-1394standard. This digital bus 40 is constructed so as to be connectable toother electronic devices.

The audiovisual output device 10B includes the digital interface 11connected to the digital bus 40, the content output unit 12 foroutputting the audiovisual content data, including audiovisualinformation, obtained via the digital interface 11, the communicationcontroller 13 for controlling data communication with the digital bus 40connected to the digital interface 11, and a vibration recognizer 80 forrecognizing the vibration.

The audiovisual playback device 20A includes the digital interface 21connected to the digital bus 40, the content data storing unit 22 forstoring the audiovisual content data having the audiovisual contentinformation, the content controller 23 for obtaining the audiovisualcontent data and audiovisual content information from the digital bus 40by controlling the digital interface 21, and the wireless receiver 70for receiving the control signal from the controller 50.

The controller 50 includes the user interface 31 for controllinginterface for a playback operation and the like, and the wirelesstransmitter 32A for generating a predetermined wireless control signalbased on a control signal generated at the user interface 31.

In the electronic device system which can realize recognition of thevibration by having the above-described construction, the user playsback desired audiovisual content data by making some form of vibration.The vibration recognizer 80 of the audiovisual output device 10Brecognizes the vibration. This leads to establish connection via thedigital interface 11 between the audiovisual output device 10B and theaudiovisual playback device 20A, so that the audiovisual output device10B is ready for the output from the audiovisual playback device 20A.Along with making the vibration, the user sends a playback controlsignal to the audiovisual playback device 20A via the wirelesstransmitter 32A of the controller 50. When the wireless receiver 70 ofthe audiovisual playback device 20A receives this control signalincluding a signal for selecting the audiovisual content data stored inthe content data storing unit 22, the content controller 23 reads theaudiovisual content data in accordance with the control signal and sendsthe read content data to the audiovisual output device 10B using thedigital interface 21. Once again, the digital interface 11 of theaudiovisual output device 10B receives the read audiovisual contentdata. The communication controller 13 outputs the received data to thecontent output unit 12. When a plurality of audiovisual output devicesis specified, the desired audiovisual content data is controlled via thedigital bus 40 so as to be output to the audiovisual output device 10Bwhich first recognizes the vibration.

Thus, when the electronic device is within the wireless zone coverage,by making the vibration and wirelessly selecting the desired audiovisualcontent, since the desired audiovisual content data is obtained form theelectronic device which stores the audiovisual content data, the desiredaudiovisual content can be automatically shown on another electricdevice which is located in a different location.

The method using the remote control unit for selecting the audiovisualcontent output device and the audiovisual content playback device, andthe method using the voice or the vibration for selecting theaudiovisual content output device are not limited to the above-describedembodiments.

For example, combination of these may be used. In order to specify theaudiovisual content output device, a pyroelectric sensor may be used.Alternatively, a contact sensor or a temperature sensor may be used.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. An electronic device system comprising: a pluralityof content playback devices, each operable to play back content storedtherein or transmitted thereto; a plurality of content output deviceseach capable of outputting desired content selected by a user; a bus towhich said playback devices and output devices are coupled; and acontroller capable of controlling the playback devices and the outputdevices and including an output device selector for transmitting to saidoutput devices an identifying signal that identifies an output deviceselected by the user, said controller including a wireless transmitterthat transmits a content selecting signal responsive to user-operationof said controller to select content stored in or transmitted to any oneof the playback devices, and wherein each output device includes areceiver for receiving said identifying signal to identify the selectedoutput device to establish communication via said bus with the playbackdevice from which the selected content is played back, whereby theplayed back content is outputted by the identified output device.